FJ1300 with a European Twist

[X-Ray]

Sounds great, especially through Randys exhaust

[ribbert]

The Silver Bullet is alive once again. 
Fred

Well done Fred, sounds great, now get it out on the road and give it curry. No point having all that extra grunt if you don't use it.

Noel

[ribbert]

Changing over to a full synthetic should not cause any issues with your clutch.
Fred

Fred, this may not have been your experience but I think there is more than enough people here who have experienced (and posted) clutch slip as an immediate result of changing to synthetic, myself included, to be wary of making such sweeping claims.

It is the sole reason many have gone to double clutch springs.

There are also many who never ride their bikes hard enough to make it slip and plenty who can't identify slip when it happens.

Noel

[TexasDave]

Have to agree with Noel. I went to full synthetic and experienced no clutch slip(stock) with my low mileage 84. When I went to a coil spring clutch I mic'd all the clutch discs and they were like new. Changed to coils to prevent any clutch slippage in the future as the discs wear. Someone with a high mileage stock clutch might experience slippage with full synthetic oil.  Dave

[giantkiller]

Mine slipped. Then went to coils on the 1350 standard springs. Rotella t6 no slippage.
89 double springs t6 no slippage. 86 when it had 10000 miles on it stock clutch, yamalube. Slippage. Couldn't power up the front end in 1st. Gear. Changed to barnett coils.
Kookaloo...

[Firehawk068]

I am neither going to agree, or disagree with anyone's claims on clutch slippage being related to synthetic oil usage.(we've all heard claims from both sides)
I'll simply add my own experience.

I have a "High Mileage" stock clutch. It was high mileage when I purchased the FJ from the original owner.
After about 2 weeks of ownership, before I went on my first longer (out of town) ride, I took the clutch apart and measured all the steels and frictions. All were in spec.
I changed the oil at that time to full-synthetic, and have used exclusively full-synthetic oil ever since.(I have no idea what the PO used for oil)

I ride her pretty darn hard on occasion, probably as hard as anybody could, and I have never experienced any amount of clutch slippage.
I've never felt any while riding 2-up either.

She has over 131,000 miles (211,000 kilometers) on her, and still no clutch slippage.
I give her the beans..................and she goes!  

[aviationfred]

I have used synthetic oil for years and never had any clutch issue that wasn't solved with a fresh fiber pack. have the coil spring set up. If I experience slippage, RPM has stiffer springs available that I would try.


Fred

[aviationfred]

The new FJ1300 is now road worthy...... Out getting a few miles in on the nice 60* evening. 

Throttle response is incredible. First impressions are that the carbs are perfect. I can't wait to get the miles in so it can be flogged. 

Fred

[moparman70]

it must be a great feeling to see all that hard work pay off --- enjoy

[Pat Conlon]

Way to go Fred

What settings do you have on the carbs?

[aviationfred]

Way to go Fred

What settings do you have on the carbs?

The numbers are as follows.

122.5
40
155

With adjustable needles. I am not sure what position Randy used. Or the air/fuel mixture screw settings. The only adjustment that j have had to make was the idle knob.

I did 10 miles this evening and I can not believe that this is the same bike. I think alot of the improvement is the carbs. My old carbs were really worn out and had a tear in one of the diaphragms. There is no more popping from the exhaust when the throttle is closed. The engine itself is extremely quiet as much as a FJ could be. Smooth, I can not explain how velvety smooth this thing is. Virtually no vibrations at all.

I have to give a huge thumbs up for those that have assisted in this build.  

First and foremost, Randy @RPM, over a number of phone conversations he always had the answers to my questions. I have to give RPM and Robert their own praise. Just knowing that we as FJ owners have a model specific parts distributor is beyond words. Pat Conlon with the moral support and sharing my enthusiasm for this project. George (movenon) and Kurt (Yamaha_fj_rider) for tips and support throughout the build. Finally to Andrews Motorsports for supplying the big bore kit. This is truly a plug and play kit. I am 100% positive that the majority of our members could do this with any of the 3 displacement options. 1095cc, 1250cc or 1297cc.

Now the European twist is to come. I am hoping what i have in mind and planned is as stunning as I envision. Updates will follow.

Fred

[Urban_Legend]

So is the European twist an espresso machine in the panniers? and Coffee grinder? Pizza oven in the other side and German beer hall in the top box.

Mark

[aviationfred]

So is the European twist an espresso machine in the panniers? and Coffee grinder? Pizza oven in the other side and German beer hall in the top box.

Mark

This is European graphics kit that will be applied to another set of bodywork with a twist in the paint. It should be stunning.


** I have already had new 1300 decals made for this decal set.


Fred

[ribbert]

I think alot of the improvement is the carbs. My old carbs were really worn out and had a tear in one of the diaphragms. There is no more popping from the exhaust when the throttle is closed. The engine itself is extremely quiet as much as a FJ could be. Smooth, I can not explain how velvety smooth this thing is. Virtually no vibrations at all.

Fred

Yep, nothing like a set of well sorted carbs to smooth out an engine.

Fred, glad to hear the early indicators are positive.

There is a level of satisfaction that no cheque book can buy, the engine you built yourself. Listening to that lump purring down the road with images fresh in your mind of all those bits and pieces you put together to create that sweet running engine has no equal! The enjoyment you will get from it cannot be matched by installing a 3rd party built motor.

I have been building engines all my life and I still get a buzz from it.

I look forward to ride feedback once it is run in.

Fred, I say this in good humour, without malice and in no way detracting from the sentiment expressed, but your "thankyou" post reads like a draft for an "Oscar" acceptance speech, it made me laugh.
(or maybe I'm about to become unstuck, yet again, with the humour gap)

I have to give a huge thumbs up for those that have assisted in this build.  

First and foremost, Randy @RPM, over a number of phone conversations he always had the answers to my questions. I have to give RPM and Robert their own praise. Just knowing that we as FJ owners have a model specific parts distributor is beyond words. Pat Conlon with the moral support and sharing my enthusiasm for this project. George (movenon) and Kurt (Yamaha_fj_rider) for tips and support throughout the build. Finally to Andrews Motorsports for supplying the big bore kit. This is truly a plug and play kit.

Noel

[nchattaway]

Well done Fred!

I had to chuckle when, as you poured a fresh 3.35L of fully synthetic down the maw of FJ1300 twisty beast, you quipped: "I've never had any clutch issues that couldn't be fixed with a fresh set of fibers....and stiffer springs..." (paraphrasing)

What other kinds of friction-modified oil induced clutch issues would there be?

Personally, I like the thought of hitting 200,000km on the original clutch having only run mineral oil. But I also like the thought of building a big bore motor with a new clutch and transmission and carbs every few years!

Hurry up and get the alternative bodywork finished so we can see what you're cooking up.